Method and apparatus for producing neutral atmosphere in heat treating furnaces



July 26, 1938. J. A. coMs'rocK 2,124,754

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NEUTRAL ATMSPHERE 1N HEAT TREATING FURNACES Filed March 25, 1935 Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED' s 'm'rlezsJ PATENT ori-uca METnon AND APPARATUS Foa raoDUcING NEUTRAL ATMosPnEaE 1N HEAT TREAT- ING FURNACES Appuoaaonraoron z5, 1935i, No. 12,761 4 cl (ci. 14s-1s) The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for producing neutral atmosphere in heat treating furnaces.

In the heat treatment of metals it is desirable 5 to surround them during the treating operations with a protective neutral atmosphere, that is, an atmosphere which is non-oxidizing and nondecarburizing evenat the high temperatures to which the metals are subjected during the treatment processing. By this means the surface of the metal is preserved during the treating process,

scaling and pitting being avoided, thus eliminating the necessity of machining the work after the heat treating thereof. Such protection of the work with a neutral atmosphere during its heat treatment may be .best carried out in an electric furnace or a furnace of the muille type, wherein the work is not in direct contact with, the heating gases or other heat medium.

It is an object of the present invention to Y provide for the continuous introduction of a neutral atmosphere of mixed gases into a furnace of the electric or muille type, andto provide means for readily and accurately controlling the at-` mosphere so introduced, both as to quantity and as to the quality or proportioning of the gases of which the atmosphere is composed.

More particularly, it is an object of the inven-` tion to provide for the introduction of an atmosphere which is neither oxidizing nor decarburizing with respect to tungsten and molybdenum high speed steels, or like metals. at temperatures of from 2000 to 2500 degrees F. and the like. In accordance with the invention, a gas such as fuel gas is cracked by direct contact witha gas-air flame, the cracking process being facililtated by the presence of a suitable catalytic agent. The cracked gas is mixed with the products'of 40 combustion of the gas-air ame'and the neutral mixed gas atmosphere resulting is introduced into the heat treating furnace, the mixture being first cooled and dehydrated. Means are provided for A accurately controlling the proportioning of the 'v gas and air directed to the gas-air flame and for controlling the amount of auxiliary gas to be cracked, and'means is also provided at the heat treating furnace for indicating the character and quantity of the gases being introduced thereto".

Accordingly, further objects of the invention are to provide a suitable apparatus and method for conditioning any form of fuel gas' or the like to obtain a suitable desired mixed gas for use in controlled quantity when and where it may be required; more specifically, to provide for the reconditioning or cracking of a gas by direct contact with a gas-air flame, and to provide in such an arrangement means for accurately controlling the proportioning of gas and air delivered to the gas-air llame, and the quantity of the auxiliary 5 gas to be cracked, whereby to readily vary and control the proportioning of the constituent gases and the quality of the neutral mixed gas atmosphere provided.

' Still further objects of the'invention are to l0 provide means for indicating the quantity and quality of the neutral gas mirture supplied to the heat treating furnace, means for subjecting the gases during the cracking process to a suitable catalytic agent, and means for removing from 15 the gases, prior to their introduction to the heat treating furnace, excess moisture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying 20 drawing, wherein there is disclosed one preferred form of apparatus for carrying out the invention Inthe drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout,

Fig. .l is a general assembly view, partially in 25 section, of the apparatus included in the system, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the heat treating furnace taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 30

As best indicated in Fig.1, the preferred form of apparatus shown for purposes of illustration of the invention, comprises generally a combustion or cracking furnace I0, ac'cooling chamber II,

a water trap or removal device I2, and a heat 3.5 treating furnace. I3.

As indicated, the combustionfor cracking furnace has connected to one end thereof, the piping system through which 4the gas and air for the gas-airiiame and the auxiliary gas to be 40 cracked are introduced into the furnace. The combustion fuel gas for the gas-air ame is intro.- duced through pipe I4 connected with a suitable sourcemf fuel gas supply. 'I'he valve I5 provides ay suitable means for accurately controlling the 45 flow of the combustion'gas. Air for the gas-air flame is introduced through the pipe I6 controlled by the valve il. The air and combustion gas are mixed at pipe union I8 from which they are directed through pipe I9.d 'I'he pipels terminates 50 inel burner 20 which extends into the end of the combustion furnace I0: The auxiliary fuel gas to be cracked is introduced through pipe 2i, con, trolled by valve 22, to a conduit 23 which surrounds the burner pipe 20. 'I'he iiame 2l, formed 55 bythe combustion of the gas-air, is confined to the central portion of the combustion furnace -of thumb clamp 28.

and the auxiliary gas to be cracked is introduced around the entire gas-air flame, thus forming a muflle or blanket around the flame in direct cone tact therewith. Being in direct contact with the gas-air ame, the auxiliary gas is cracked by direct convection with and conduction from the products of combustion of the gas-air ame, as well as by radiation.

The combustion furnace in the preferred embodiment illustrated comprises an elongated tulbular construction, as such form of combustion chamber is well suited to the purpose of the invention. However, other suitable forms of combustion chamber could be employed. The lining 25 of the combustion furnace is preferably composed of heat resisting nickel alloy. The nickel acts as a catalytic agent in the cracking process and greatly facilitates the cracking action of thel gas-air flame. If desired, heat-resisting metal other than a nickel alloy could be used for the combustion furnace lining, in which event'the nickel catalytic agent could be introduced in the form of a wire screen or plate, or series of bars, secured to the furnace lining adjacent the gas-air flame where the major portion of the cracking process is carried out. The end of the combustion furnace opposite the burner 2li is closed by means of a cover platel 26 pivoted at 21, and normally held in closed position by means By manipulation of the thumb clamp the cover 26 may be swung or raised about the pivot 2l to allow access to the interior of the combustion furnace.

The products of combustion of the gas-air flame and' the cracked auxiliary gas are mixed within the combustion furnace and conducted therefrom by means of pipe 30 to a coil 3l Within the cooling chamber l l. The cooling chamber i i is preferably watercooled, the water being introduced through inlet conduit 32 controlled by valve.33, and being exhausted from the chamber by means of outlet conduit 3d controlled by valve 35. 'Ihe valves 33 and `35i provide means for controlling the amount of the cooling water, and in the normal operation of the system the cooling chamber iskept cold and substantially full of water so that a maximum cooling of the neutral of the gases within the coil the moisture therein is condensed. This moistureis removed from the gases by means of the water trap l2 which is located in the conduit line at the lower end of the coolingcoil 3i. The collected water may be drained from time to time from the water trap I2 by'meansof pet cock 36. v

From the cooling coil andwater trap the neutral gases are directed by means of pipe line, 38 to theheat treating furnaces i3. A single com-. bustion furnace or cracking unit may be used in connection with an entire battery of -heat treating furnaces, the neutral gases being conducted from supply pipe 38 ,to the entire battery of heat treating furnaces through suitabley piping connections. In the drawing but a single heat treating furnace is shown, but it is to be understood that any desired number could be connected to the electric heatlcoils in the case of an electric fur- In the/ drawing, elements i3' imbedded in the walls of the furnace indicate either nace or the heating combustion tubes in the Icase of a muiiie type furnace.

The volume of the neutral gas introduced into the furnace is controlled by means of valve 39.A

As best seen,by reference to Fig. 2, the mixed gases constituting the neutral atmosphere are introduced into the heat treating furnace both through the rear thereof by means of pipe i0 and through the front by means of pipe ill. The gases introduced to the rear of the furnace pass through openings fili, formed in a barrier wall lili across the rear part of the furnace. A considerable number of openings 'i3 are provided and by means of them a continuous blanket of neutral atmosphere is passed across the work piece 35, suitably supported within the furnace interior. The opening i6 in the front of Athe furnace, through which access to the furnace interior is h'ad, is closed by means of a cover plate M hinged at i8 and provided with a suitable operating handle t9. An opening 5U is cut through the cover plate, and the neutral gases introduced into the furnace interior are discharged through this opening. The neutral gases introduced to the front of the furnace through the pipe fil provide a protecting blanket across the face of the work when the cover plate lll is raised for any purpose, as for the inspection of the work or for its insertion or removal. 'Ihat is, the gases introduced `in the front of the furnace through pipe il form the lfurnace both when the cover plate @l is opened and when it is closed.

The gases. being discharged through opening 5@ serve as an indicator for the conditions within the furnace. This is due to the fact that the neutral gases, though non-oxidizing or decarburizing to even the most readily oxidized or4 decarburized metals, burn freely when mixed with air in sufficient quantities. The gases issuingfrom opening 50 are ignited and the character of the flame produced indicates the character or quality of the gases being introduced to the heat treating furnace. The size of the flame shows the gas pressure. i

In use and in starting the apparatus, the cover plate 26 is first opened so that access may be ,had to the interior of the combustion furnace.

The valves I5 and i7 are then opened, producing a gas-air mixture at theburner 20 which may be readily ignited through the open end of the combustion furnace. At this time the valve 22 controlling the introduction of the auxiliary fuel gas toA be cracked is closed, the valve 39 controlling the introduction of the-gases to the heat treating" furnace is likewise closed, and the cover plate 26 is left open. The combustion furnace is conditioned by permitting thegas-air flame to burn sufciently to bring the nickel alloy heat-resisting lining 25 to a red heat. In practice ths mayA require an hour or so. When the combustion furnace is thus conditioned the cover plate 26 is closed and secured by thumb screw 28, and valves 22 and 39 are opened. The valves 33 and` 35 are-also adjusted so'that cooling water ows through the cooling chamber il.

'I'he valves l5 and il controlling the mixture forthe gas-air flame are adjusted so that a maximum of' gas ,is introduced with respect to the air, an amountl just short of Athat which will cause a blowing olf of the ame at the burner. A blowing oil at the burner causes the gas ame emitted through the opening 50 in cover plate 41 to flicker. In adjusting the valves therefor, valve I5 emitting the combustion gas may be opened until a flicker is produced in the indi' flame to show a blue clean flame. The above ad- K justment of the valves produces a very satisfactory mixed gas neutral atmosphere for the treatment of most metals, including those such as tungsten and molybdenum high speed steelsA which are readily susceptible to surface oxidation or decarburization. However, the proportioning of the various constituentL gases in the neutral gas atmosphere may be readily and accurately controlled by means of the several valves. The valves I5 and I1 may be manipulated to produce the most satisfactory air-gas name without in any way disturbingthe supply of the auxiliary gas to be cracked. Likewise, the supply of the auxiliary gas may 'be varied and controlled without disturbing the vproportioning of the airland lcombustion gas, or disturbing the character of the air-gas iiame. By this means a very; accurate and flexible control of the operating coni ditions of the systemmay be effected.y If the neutral atmosphere .were produced merely by themixture of air and'combustion gas, without the introduction of the auxiliary gas to be cracked, the control of the mixture could be efi fectfd only by varying the character of the gas ame, an arrangement which `has a considerable number of disadvantages. In accordance with the present invention the character of the flame and the quantum of the auxiliary gas to be i cracked may be independently controlled, each may be varied without disturbing the other.

Within the combustion furnacev I the gas to be cracked is brought into direct contact with the gas-air ame, whereby the cracking is efl fected by convection and conduction as well as by radiation, the auxiliary gas forming a complete muiile around th air-gas ilame./ In the cracking' of the auxiliary gas methane and like higher a hydrocarbons,` common constituents of many fuel gases, are broken up and.. the hydrogen content of the gases is increased. A very desirable `neutrai atmosphere of mixed gases is produced and,

by means of the valve control arrangements prev'iously discussed, the proportioning of the various 3 constituent gases in the mixed g'as atmosphere may be accurately controlled to' produce a neutral atmosphere best suited to Vthe requirements.

of the particular metals being heat treated'.

The'neutral atmosphere of mixedgases sup- 5 plied tothe heattreating furnaces comprises both the products of combustion of the gas-sirname and the productsl into which the auxiliary fuel gas is cracked, and these may be readily and accurately controlled and proportionedto produce 0 the `most desired operating, conditions. TheV cracking process is aided' by the catalytic agent.' The-volumefof gas vintroduced to the indi dual heat-treating furnace may be readily con rolled v by means of valve 39. Excess moisture is removed 5 from the gasesgby means o f water trap.` I2. 4A

complete protective blanket of neutral gases is .provided within the heat-treating furnace and this protective atmosphere is not disturbed even when the furnace door is open for the insertion or removal of work pieces. The gas flame issuing through opening 50 furnishes a convenient medium for indicating the conditions of the neutral gas within the furnace.

-It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the specific apparatus shown and described, and in the several method'steps set out in 4illustration of the invention without departing' from the spirit thereof. I therefore do not wishto be limited to the precise constructions an'd method steps hereinbefore shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

I claim:

l, In a heat treating unit, a combustion fuel gas supply conduit, an air supply conduit, a burner pipe-connected to said supply conduits and terminating in a burner portion within a combustion furnace, an auxiliary fuel gas supply conduit surrounding said burner pipe and also terminating within said combustion furnace, means for independently controlling the flow of combustion fuel gas, air, and auxiliary fuel gas, a cooling coil, conduit means connecting the combustion furnace and the cooling coil, a waterA trap, a conduit connecting the water trap and the cooling coil, a. heat-treating furnace, and a conduit connecting the water trap and the heattreating furnace, valve control means in said lastnamed conduit, said last-named conduit being connected to the furnace interior at opposite ends thereof, and an exhaust opening formed in said furnace.

2. The method of supplying protective gases to heat treating furnaces which comprises mixing a hydrocarbon fuel gas and air in the proper proportions to support combustion and controlling the mixture of hydrocarbon gas and air to produce a flame of predetermined character, passing the mixture to a burner, ignlting the mixture at the burner to form a gas-air flame, cracking an auxiliary hydrocarbon fuel gas by introducing it as a blanket about the gas-air flame and directly in contact therewith and in the presence of the products of combustion of the gas-air flame, and supplying the gaseous mixture so formed to the heat treating furnace to provide an enveloping atmosphere therein.

3. The method of supplying protective gases to heat treating furnaces which comprises mixing a hydrocarbon fuel gas and air 4in the properv proportions-to support combustion and controlling ythe mixture ofhydrocarbon gas and air to produce a name of predetermined character, passing the mixture to a burner, igniting' the mixture at the burner to form a gas-air name, surrounding the gasair flame with a muiiie of auxiliary hydrocarbon fuel gas to be cracked, said surrounding hydrocarbon gas being in direct contact with theilame and the products of combustion thereoi,` contacting the 'auxiliary gas mui'e with hot nickel during the cracking process, and supplying the cracked gaseous products substantially diretly to the heat treating furnace to provide an enveloping atmosphere therein.

4.' The method of heat treating high speed molybdenum steels which comprises mixing a hydrocarbon fuel gas and air in the proper proportions to support combustion and controlling the mixture of hydrocarbon 86S and all' t0 PrO- duce a flame of predeterminedrcharacter, passc i i.

ing the mixture to a burner, igniting the mixture at the burner to form o gas-air ame, cracking an auxiliary hydrocarbon fuel gas by introducing it ese blanket about the gas-air flame vand in direct Contact with the gas-air ame and in the presence of the products of combustion thereof,

dirige@ cooling the resulting gaeeous mixture, dehydreting said mixture, and conveying the cooled dehydrateci mixture substantially directly tore, heat treating chamber as an. enveloping atmosphere for the materiel to be heet treatedu Jorim A. COMSTOCK. 

